Troutbitten

Here's a good talk about other styles and other species, and how using a spinning rod or baitcaster can open up your fishing world to a more complete set of skills and a better understanding of . . . fishing.

Most fly anglers can pick up and cast a spinning rod or baitcaster, but if you spend some real time to develop an intimate understanding of the strengths and the possibilities, you gain another base of knowledge.

The same can be said for chasing other species: bass, carp, musky, redfish, permit, snook, striper. They’re all different, all with unique challenges and solutions that transfer over to the trout world, given the right circumstance.

The question is, can you learn everything -- that same, full skillset of presentations, of reading a river and more, by only fishing a fly rod? That’s part of what we talk about in this podcast.

My good friends Austin Dando and Bill Dell join me for this one.
Resources
PODCAST: Troutbitten | The Versatile Angler - S3, Ep15
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Fish and Film - One Morning for Versatility
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Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

Over the last few decades, fishing apparel has undergone a dramatic evolution. Today, we expect more than ever from our boots, waders, jackets, and shirts because we've grown accustomed to the advantages of purpose-built gear that's ready to deliver.

Comfort, support and durability are the hallmarks of great fishing gear. So I sat down with Kevin Sloan, the founder of Skwala fishing, for a look at where the industry stands now, a look back at where we were and a forward look at where we're going.

It was a fun conversation full of in-depth technical specifics on why and how good designs last. Kevin also has a lifetime of fishing stories to share.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | All the Things
READ: Troutbitten | 100 Day Gear Review - Skwala RS Wading Boots
READ: Troutbitten | Critical Wader Care - Advice from the Companies Themselves - How to Wash and Dry Your Waders
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

We’re here to talk about fishing angles. Are you wading upstream or down? And are you casting upstream or down? What’s your preference? Why do you make that decision? When, if ever does it change? And does your casting direction always follow your wading direction?
Sometimes, these preferences seem regional, while other times it’s specifically about the tactic -- meaning that swinging wet flies, for example, suits a downstream approach best. But sometimes, angle choice seems more like tradition, and many anglers simply fish a certain way because their Dad did.
Most of us at Troutbitten look at things objectively. We all went through a period of time where we tore everything down that we thought we knew and rebuilt the database from the ground up. We want to know what really works best.
My good friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me to answer these questions.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | The Downstream Fisher Yields to the Upstream Fisher
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Riverside: Fishing Direction - Should You Work Upstream or Downstream?
READ: Troutbitten | Face Upstream, Fish Upstream
READ: Troutbitten | The Advantages of Working Upstream

Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

What’s the nymph really doing under there? How is it affected by the currents? And is the attached tippet dragging the fly unnaturally across, over, up or out of the natural, one-seam drift that our picky trout are waiting for?
The challenge of nymphing is mercifully balanced by the frequency at which trout feed on these bottom dwelling food forms. So even if we get one in ten drifts just right, the rate at which we might fool fish makes this maddening quest for perfection more than worth it. Simply put, nymphing is fun because it works — and because there’s always a way to make it work even better.
Our nymphs require weight to get under the surface and down to the trout. And “how much weight” is a fundamental consideration — perhaps the primary factor — toward the goal of drifting nymphs naturally.
If you’re into anything long enough, you’ll notice the trends. And you can watch dogged convictions shift, en masse. In an industry as niche as fly fishing for trout, the opinions of just a few influential anglers often shape the next metamorphosis. So it is with the nymphing game, as the current trend for lighter flies and lighter tackle has taken a strong foothold. But just a few years ago, the concept of anchor flies was driving weighty considerations in the opposite direction. (Just as many trout found the net, by the way.)
As with most things, real success with nymphs lies somewhere toward the middle of these extremes, and persistent success comes from a combination of both.

Resources
Here's the full article:
READ: Troutbitten | Are Light Nymphs More Effective? Is Less Weight More Natural?
Here are supporting articles:
READ: Troutbitten Drifting Light Nymphs
READ: Troutbitten | Over or Under -- Your Best Bet On Weight
READ: Troutbitten | Leading vs Tracking vs Guiding the Flies
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

For our Season 19 Intermission, my wife, Becky, joins me to check in on what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (May 24th), the Troutbitten Film Festival, guide season, changes to the Troutbitten Beer with New Trail Brewing Company and the Mono Rig book status. Then my son, Aiden, joins me for a short conversation about spring fishing.
Resources
VIDEOS: Troutbitten | Fish and Film | Category
SHOP: Troutbitten | Category | Leaders
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/